Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia describes what happens when the upper portion of your stomach bulges through the diaphragm, which is the large muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. There is a small opening in the diaphragm, called the hiatus, and the esophagus passes through this opening before it connects to the stomach. When the stomach pushes through this opening and into the chest, hiatal hernia is the result.

If you have a minor hiatal hernia, you may never know. Larger hiatal hernias, on the other hand, can cause noticeable symptoms.

What causes hiatal hernia?

Hiatal hernia is a result of weakened muscles, which allow the stomach to bulge through the diaphragm. This can be caused by aging or injury from trauma or surgery. Other potential causes of hiatal hernia include being born with an abnormally large hiatus or suffering from intense pressure from vomiting, coughing, straining during bowel movements, or lifting heavy objects.

Is a hiatal hernia dangerous?

While it sounds serious, a hiatal hernia actually doesn’t cause symptoms in most cases. Many people who experience a hiatal hernia won’t need treatment.

What sort of treatment is used for hiatal hernia in cases where treatment is necessary?

If you have ongoing symptoms like acid reflux, you may require medications or surgery to treat hiatal hernia. Your doctor may prescribe medications to neutralize stomach acid, reduce acid production, or block the production of acid. If medication does not improve symptoms or if you have serious complications, such as significant inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus, your doctor may perform surgery. For example, surgery can allow your doctor to pull the stomach back down into the abdomen and reduce the size of the opening in the diaphragm.

Common Symptoms

“I had symptoms of acid reflux, and it felt like I was regurgitating food back into my mouth.”
“I experienced heartburn, and I was having trouble swallowing food.”
“I had chest pain and shortness of breath.ausea and vomiting.”

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiatal-hernia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373379

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

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Suzanne A.

The staff is kind and caring. The facility if clean and well kept. Love Dr Nandi and the staff.

Sue M.

Still loving phone appointments! Suffer abdominal migraines, and Dr.Tocco has made them so much easier go through. Convenient and gets right to the problem...much thanks!

Tina D.

Great people from the front office to the nurses to the doctor. Thank you for q great experience.

Liz M.

The staff is great and made me feel very comfortable. I always have Dr Donat do my procedures, have been going to him for over 15 years.

Denise H.

Center for Digestive Health is a perfect place to go if you have any type of digestive issue. They make you feel very comfortable talking about any issue you may be experiencing and they ask all the appropriate questions all the while putting you at ease. When I called I was worried about something and they worked to get me right in. I saw the PA Noelle and she is just wonderful. Everyone at the desk and beyond are very welcoming and helpful. Dr. Weber has been my doctor there for years and I trust him explicitly. His assistant Debbie always helps me out and listens to me and is always very kind. The office is warm, clean and inviting. There are a few locations and so that makes it very nice. All in all I’m very impressed with this group of Doctors, Nurses and Assistants.

larry G.

Very caring and knowledgeable.

Joanne P.

My visit was great. I didn’t have to wait long and Dr Donat did not rush me and answered all of my questions. He was supportive.

Jinyang

Doctor Weber is very nice and listening

Kent K.

Very timely and very nice people who work there thanks

Michele P.

All of the staff I dealt with were professional, friendly, and did their jobs well. I was very pleased. I do want to give a wonderful, over the top review, for my CRNA, such a kind and caring woman. I was very satisfied with my procedure experience. By

Jim W.

When i first met Dr Tocco, I was surprised at how young he appears (probably because I am 64) but was reminded of that by my wife. I immediately felt at ease with him. he is easy to talk to and will answer questions in a conversation instead of a clinical sounding way. the staff is very warm and helpful.

Darlene W.

I like Dr Bologna and his staffs are very great serviced short wait !!!

Clayton S.

Everything from sign in to discharge was extremely timely and well rehearsed. Very pleased with everyone’s efforts!

Stephen S.

It relatively nice and quick. Friendly staff.

L K.

Dr. Anezi Bakken is excellent. Wonderful bedside manner. Consistent communication throughout the procedural process.I was referred to her and will be referring others.

Paula S.

Everyone made me feel comfortable and at ease for my procedure. They are extremely organized and efficient as I was home 2 hours after my procedure. The only thing I would say is my husband, who was waiting for me, didn’t get any information from when I left him in the waiting room.

Sue D.

One of the things I love most about Dr. Donat, is his kind and caring manner, he listens, asks questions and is mindful of the patients concerns. That's why I have been a patient with this office and this Dr. for over 15 years. The staff is kind and caring and does their best to work with patients.

janet V.

Dr Webber is a great doctor. I’ve been a patient of his for a long time. Highly recommend him and The Center for Digestive Health. Excellent care.

Gjon D.

Dr.Donat is a pro. He listens and cares. Hard to find. Keep up the good work.

Susan P.

Staff was friendly and welcoming. Dr. Bologna is the best!

Edward M.

My visit went very well. The RN Michelle was very nice and courteous. She was very polite and her conversation was great. Dr Weber of course was very professional. He does a very good job keeping me up to date with my medical reports. The anesthesiologist was very kind as well. Very good appointment, in and out.

LaDonna R.

My 1st experience was great. Everyone from the receptionist to the PCA assistant escorted me to my car were very kind. I highly recommend this office.

Mary F.

Staff is extremely friendly and caring and focused on making you feel comfortable and well-informed.

D G.

Love Dr Willie! He is the best!

Nathaniel W.

I had a wonderful experience Dr. Bologna and staff were nice and very professional caring for their patients.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

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Linda B.

Nice staff and very professional.

Tina B.

Always a great experience!!

P M.

Very friendly and professional staff.

Lawrence S.

Televisit was right on time. Dr gave us his full attention. The Dr was fully aware of my wife's issues, which meant that we could focus on what we needed to. Within two days we were notified as to the date of the procedure that the Dr recommended.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

Christina N. Brown, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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